THE FLOODS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 818, 5 February 1877, Page 2

THE FLOODS.

The unlucky February 4th of nine years ago, and the incidents of that day to many districts was forcibly brought to mind by the rain and the Buddeu flooding of the rivers on Saturday. The erratic Waimakariri, which stands chief on the list in the northern district was reported in a telegram from the Boaley at J 1.20 to be in heavy flood. The telegraphist also stated that the rain was continuing, and 3{in had fallen within the last twenty-four hours. The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr Ellen) was duly apprised by Mr Bob leston of the flooded condition of the river, and steps were immediately taken by the works committee of the Borough Council to get a gang of men, and provide shovels and other requisites in case of flood to dam up the openings of the Ohoka drain and Feldwick's cutting should it be necessary, as the flood gates recently put in these outlets are ineffective. In the meantime the Mayor telegraphed to the Bealey, asking if the weather was improving, and if the flood in the iiver waß unusunlly high. The reply received was to the effect that the Waimakiriri was still very high, but falling slightly since morning ; the weather was still overcast, with heavy rain; the flood was not so high as the officer in charge of the telegraph station had seen on former occasions. Near Birch and Co's wharf, at 3.30 p,m, the backwater rose four inches in twenty five minutes, but at 5 p.in, although there was a vast accumulation of rubbish backed up, and affairs were thought to be looking serious, the river was not higher than during an ordinary tide. At high tide on Saturday night and Sunday morning the flood did not get beyond the wharves in the town. During Sunday afternoon the river rose steadily from the flood in the North as well as the South branch. The former branch is greatly flooded by the drainage from the Rangiora swamp. At Chaney's, on the South branch, the country and crops are under water, the oveiflow being dammed by the railway line, which has been raised 20in since last flood. This overflow is sent into the river again at the railway bridge, where, with the combined pressure of the stream which has not room to escape by its proper channel, the water has been sent over the farms of Messrs Stanton, Baker, Burgess, and others, on the North road, doing a considerable amount of damage. The North road is impassable. It is expected that at ten p.m. the flood will nearly reach the top of the embankments. The country near Church Bush is inundated with the overflow Bent back into the Cam. At low water, the river is at present up to the capsils of the bridgeß. The Ashley was rising all day on Saturday, and at six o'clock there was every prospect of a flood on Saturday night. The rivers and Btreams further north were all much swollen, but no damage had been reported.